Planning Ahead To Control Your Healthcare

Planning Ahead to Control Your Healthcare

As a leading attorney in the world of Georgia Estate Planning, our clients reach out to me to protect the life they have built.

They want to make sure their legacy is protected from the courts and respected by their family. They usually (hopefully) have a general idea of what they want to do with their legacy and we help them find the planning tool that is right for them.

When clients come to me, they are focusing on what happens after death. And though it’s not easy to think about death, I find it’s even harder to think about what happens if you or a loved one becomes incapacitated. No one wants to think about the lack of control and the possibility of your healthcare being in the hands of another, especially when that person may not be someone you trust.

Over the past two years, COVID has brought medical incapacitation to the forefront.

The pandemic has shown us how fragile our health really is and how fast our life can change.

Recently, I read an article about newly married Mike and Luciana Wiltse.

One morning, Mike woke up unable to breathe and quickly found himself in the process of being put in a medically induced coma.

Meanwhile, Luciana hustled to gather the proper documents so she could make decisions on her husband’s behalf.

I can’t imagine having to worry about paperwork while facing the prospect of having a loved one put on a ventilator!

However, as terrible as their experience was, they were lucky. Mike was able to sign an Advance Directive for Health Care and Luciana had the authority she needed to care for him.

It doesn’t always happen this way.

One of the most important documents we provide in our comprehensive estate plan is the Advance Directive for Health Care.

This document allows you to remain in control even if you find yourself unable to make medical decisions for yourself.

The Advance Directive for Health Care allows you to choose someone you trust to make healthcare decisions if you can’t and directs them on your end-of-life treatment preferences.

Anything can happen at any time, so it’s important to plan ahead.

Do you want to be in control? Or do you want to leave it to strangers to make your healthcare decisions? We create our comprehensive estate plans with these questions in mind.

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is the peace of mind of having a plan in place.

To read about Mike and Luciana Wiltse’s experience, visit the link below:

Wisconsin couple advocates for advance directives on Healthcare Decisions Day

Financial Power of Attorney & Advance Directive for Health Care

What is a Financial Power of Attorney?

A Financial Power of Attorney allows you to assign a trusted person to make financial decisions on your behalf if you can no longer do so. It’s like giving someone an extra set of house keys… you still have your (financial) house keys, but someone else can step in if you need help.

What is an Advance Directive for Health Care?

An Advance Directive for Healthcare allows you to assign a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

Who should have one?

Everyone!

Anyone at anytime can find themselves in need of one or both of these documents.

They bring peace of mind to aging loved ones by knowing who will be there to care for them.

They can ensure married couples can make decisions for each other’s care, if one can’t.

They allow parents the ability to make decisions if an emergency arises and their child is over 18.

They can help a potential ward have control over who is assigned as their Guardian or Conservator.

To learn how we can help you create your Advance Directive for Health Care contact our office at:

770-693-2426

Learn more about our Estate Planning services by visiting:

Estate Planning